3 bedrooms apartment, 900 m²

Civita Castellana, Viterbo (province)

Tuscia

PALAZZO MONTALTO – BELEI
Although the original structures of Palazzo Montalto-Belei date back to the Middle Ages the present shape is a project of Giacomo della Porta for Pope Paul IV Carafa (1555-1559) and later modified by Domenico Fontana under Pope Sixtus V Peretti (1585-1590) for his nephew Cardinal Alessandro Peretti (1571-1623), new Governor of Civita Castellana. Architect D. Fontana decides to enlarge the Palazzo; the nearby houses were bought to double the façade but not changing the original project of Della Porta; at the same time an imposing front door in marble with an elegant loggia decorated it. A large staircase was also added in the typical Renaissance style.

Cardinal Alessandro wanted to call two famous painters, Cavalier d’Arpino(1568-1640) and Antonio Tempesta (1555-1630) to carry out several frescos in which the recent noble family of Perettis could be glorified. In the main hall the two painters achieve a large fresco with the coats of arms of the family and their feudal estates.

When Cardinal Peretti died the Palazzo is first of Family Stella, later to Family Baroni and then to end to Family Belei, that has restored it possibly according to the original background.

In the past many famous people stayed at the Palazzo, among them Queen Christine of Sweden, the poet Wolfang von Goethe, Lord Byron besides various Popes and Cardinals.

Technical features
In the historic heart of the town, Palazzo Montalto- Belei is 200 meters from the main square, home to the municipal building, 300 meters from Piazza del Duomo. in the main square there are 3 bars, a supermarket and clothing stores .. In front of the building there is a private pharmacy and a little further on the municipal pharmacy in front of the municipal schools.At 400 meters from Palazzo Montalto  is situated the hospital Andosilla.  Building achieved in 1580. At Monterosi, charming town 15 kilometers from Civita Castellana there is an international golf course. New roof in 1998, façade restored in 1999. Incoming hall and main staircase restored in 2002. Grounding electrical system according to standards. The building is bound under Law n. 1089 (1/6/ 1939).

A) Basement: 7 large rooms on 3 different levels, with vaults and dug into the local stone (“tufo”) in use as cellar. Refurbished in 2005. Surface 200 sq.

B) Ground floor: 3 rooms with vaults 5 m high, (library, private studio and main incoming hall). Refurbished in 2005. Surface 84 sq.

C) Main floor (or “Piano Nobile”): 8 halls (three of them with “a tempera” decoration, XVIII century), 3 bathrooms, a large professional kitchen, 2 sleeping rooms and cloakroom. Balcony. N. 2 staircases. Vaults and panelled ceilings 6 m high. Surface 400 sq.

- In the main hall ( sala “dei fasti Peretti”) there is a series of frescos by Antonio Tempesta ( 1555 – 1630) and Cavalier d'Arpino ( 1568 – 1640).
- N. 4 fireplaces plus an historical one ( XV century ).
- Original floors (“cotto”) dated 1580 and some other of marble ( end XIX century).
- Renaissance wooden doors (some of XVIII century) framed of travertine stone (XVI century).
- Wooden frames and casings have been replaced with new ones upon the original models.
- The main floor has been refurbished in 2000 under the high supervision of “Sovrintendenza ai monumenti del Lazio” (Region Lazio’s Historical Monuments Control Institute) .
- Heating / Air Conditioning by termo convoils.
- Electrical system according to standards.

D) Upstairs: 4 rooms (cloakroom, sitting room, sleeping room, laundry, bathroom). Terrace. Ceiling 3 m. high. Surface 100 sq.
- Heating ( thermo heating / air conditioning). Refurbishing in year 2000.

The apartment is sold fully furnished with antique furniture, the paintings, the precious carpets, crystal chandeliers, the brocade draperies,  dishes,glasses and cutlery.

The deal includes the purchase of an apartment of 300 sqm on the second floor with ceilings that sometimes reach an height of 8 metres. The apartment is particularly bright, on the top floor of Palazzo Montalto Belei, that is the highest historical building of Civita Castellana. It is perfect to be changed into a loft.
To ease the foreign investor and in the interest of both, the buyer and the seller, all the phases of the deal (payment included) will be supported by expert and reliable professionals, and the fee will be at the expense of the seller.